It is the (.pinion of Mr Curcton and Chevalier Bunsen that these three Syriac epistles are the only genuine writings of Ignatius ; — because the Syriac manuscript, transcribed most probably before a d. 560, is of greater antiquity than any existing Jji-eek manu- scripts;—the epistles in Syriac are shorter than the same epistles as published by Usher in the Mediccan text, while the sense comes out more clearly, from the omission of the
Earts found only in the Greek manuscripts ; — jiassages in the latter, to which objections ave been urged, as containing allusions to heresies (Valentinianism, for example) sub- sequent to the time of Ignatius, and sentences insisting on a superstitious deference to the hierarchy, do not appear in the Syriac; from Avhich it would follow, either that these passages are spurious, and inserted since the time of the Syriac tran.slator, or that he anticipated the objections of modern critici-sm, and confirmed them as just by deleting these passages; — there is perfect uniformity in the style of so much of these epistles in Greek as corresponds with the three Syriac epistles, while the discrep mcy of style existing in the Greek recensions between the Epistle to Polycarp and the rest, the dif- ference of matter in the Epistle to the Romans (in the Greek six times longer than in the Syriac), and the peculiar complexion of two chapters in the Epistle to the Trallians, transferred, as it now appears, from the Epistle to the Romans, had all been noticed previous to the discovery of the Syriac manuscripts, and had thrown an air of suspicion over all the epistles ; — and the three epistles in the Syriac collection are the only epistles for which the evidence of antiquity, in the shape of testimonies and allusions in the writings of the early fathers, can be cited for upwards of two centuries after the death of Ignatius.
On the other hand, it has been argued that the Syriac version is probably an epitome of the Greek epistles; that such abridgments were common in ancient times; that the scope and sense is more clear in the Greek than in the Syriac ; that a manuscript printed by Mr Cureton is a Syriac abridgUiCnt of these epistles, differing from that of the three considered by him to be genuine ; that the events and opinions which seem to indicate a later age than that of the martyr may be explained by reference to his age ; that in the third century quotations are found from all the epistles ; and that Eusebius expressly names and describes seven epistles, a testimony repeated by Jerome.
At present the amount of evidence seems in favour of the three Syriac epistles, as all the genuine remains of Ignatius we possess. It is possible that Syriac manuscripts of the other epistles may be discovered, although the claim of the foimer to be not only paramount but exclusive has been argued with great force, on the ground that had the fatter existed, they would certainly have been the subject of appeal in many controver- sies by many fathers who utterly ignore them, as well as from the closing words of the recently discovered manuscripts, " Here end the three epistles of Ignatius, bishop and martyr." Meanwhile it is satisfactory to know that the Syriac version leaves the argu- ment for the authenticity and genuineness of the Scriptures very nearly where it .-^tood. It contains references to two of the Gospels, to the Acts of the Apostles, and to five of Paul's Epistles. Both the Epistles of Ignatius to the Ephesians and to the Romans, in the Syriac version, assert distinctly the Godhead of Christ.
But how fares the question of ecclesiastical polity, — the point which brought these epistles into dispute between Owen and llnmiuoiul,— liy tlie discovery of the Syriac manuscrij)t? All the passages in favour of the hierarchy disappear in it, except the following from the Epistle to Polycarp, "Look to the bishop, that God also may look upon you. I will be instead of the souls of those who are subject to the bishop, and the presbyters, and the deacons." Are we to say here, like Neander in reference to all the Greek epistles, with tlie exception of the one to the Romans, which he admitted to pos- sess ereater marks of originality than the others, " a hierarchical purpose is not to be mistaken," to pronounce it an interpolation, or challenge the authenticity of the Syriac document ? or are we to admit its genuineness, and acce]it it as evidence that Episco- pacy dates so early as the time of Ignatius? or are we to question the import of the term " bishop," so as to make it quadrate with Congregational or Presbyterian views ? But these questions, while they illustrate the present state of the controversy, are be- yond our province.— Ed.
THE DOCTRINE OE THE SAINTS' PERSEVERANCE EXPLAINED AND CONFIRMED.
CHAPTER I.
THE STATE OF THE CONTEOVERSY.
The various thoughts of men concerning the doctrine proposed to consideration — The great concernment of it, however stated, on all hands confessed — Some special causes pressing to the present handling of it — The fearful backsliding of many in these days — The great offence given and taken thereby, vidth the provision made for its removal — The nature of that offence and temptation thence arising considered — Answer to some arguings of Mr G., chap, ix., from thence against the truth proposed — The use of trials and shakings—Grounds of believers' assurance that they are so — The same farther argued and debated — Of the testimony of a man's own conscience concerning his uprightness, and what is required thereunto — 1 John iii. 7 considered — Of the rule of self-judging, with principles of settlement for true believers, notwithstanding the apostasies of eminent professors — Corrupt teachings rendering the hand- ling of this doctrine necessary — Its enemies of old and of late — The particular undertaking of Mr G. proposed to consideration — An entrance into the stat- ing of the question — The terms of the question explained — Of holiness in its several acceptations — Created holiness, original or adventitious, complete or inchoate — Typical by dedication, real by purification — Holiness evangelical, either so indeed or by estimation — Real holiness partial or universal — The partakers of the first, or temporary believers, not true believers, maintained against Mr G. — Ground of judging professors to be true believers — Matt, vii. 20 considei-ed — What is the rule of judging men therein given — What knowledge of the faith of others is to be obtained — What is meant by perse- verance : how in Scripture it is expressed — The grounds of it pointed at — What is intended by falling away — Whether it be possible the Spirit of grace may be lost, or the habit of it, and how — The state of the controversy as laid down by Mr G. — The vanity thereof discovered — His judgment about be- lievers' falling away examined — What principles and means of perseverance he grants to them — The enemies of our perseverance — Indwelling sin in parti- cular considered — No possibility of preservation upon Mr G.'s grounds demon- strated— The means and ways of the saints' preservation in faith, as asserted by Mr G., at large examined, weighed, and found light — The doctrine of the saints' perseverance, and way of teaching it, cleared from Isa. iv. — That chap- ter opened — The 5th verse particularly insisted on and discussed — The whole state and method of the controversy thence educed.